Charles Taylor asks UN for 'reconciliation not retribution'

Convicted Liberian warlord Charles Taylor said he sympathizes with victims of
the civil war in Sierra Leone he helped foment, and urged judges to render
their sentence against him in a spirit of "reconciliation, not retribution".

Former Liberian President Charles TaylorPhoto: EPA

4:00PM BST 16 May 2012

As he submitted his sentencing plea at a UN court in The Hague, accused prosecutors of paying and intimidating witnesses.

"Witnesses were paid, coerced and in many cases threatened with prosecution if they did not give statements," the former Liberian president told Sierra Leone's special court, ahead of his sentencing on May 30.

Taylor, 64, was found guilty by the UN-backed court last month for aiding and abetting war crimes.

He was convicted on 11 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in April, including murder, rape, and conscripting child soldiers. Judges at the U.N.-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone ruled he helped arm rebels during that country's civil war in exchange for "blood diamonds" often obtained by slave labor.

In written filings, the prosecution demanded 80 years, saying Taylor made horrific crimes possible. Defense attorneys argued for a sentence reflecting Tayor's indirect role: he was found guilty of aiding rebels, not leading them as prosecutors charged. Taylor might apologize in hopes of a lighter sentence, but he plans to appeal the conviction.

Taylor was convicted on 11 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in April, including murder, rape, and conscripting child soldiers. Judges at the U.N.-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone ruled he helped arm rebels during that country's civil war in exchange for "blood diamonds" often obtained by slave labor.

In written filings, the prosecution demanded 80 years, saying Taylor made horrific crimes possible. Defense attorneys argued for a sentence reflecting Tayor's indirect role: he was found guilty of aiding rebels, not leading them as prosecutors charged. Taylor might apologize in hopes of a lighter sentence, but he plans to appeal the conviction